Plastic Nev

If the motherboard does have on board graphics, it may be worth pulling the card out and trying the on board, it is worth looking over anyway just to rule out the card. Nev.

Did you restore back to factory settings because the DVD wasn't working, or did it stop working after the restore? Nev.

And a g'day to Australia, welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and I hope we can help you sort your problems out. Nev.

Until you answer Ken I will assume you may be using Windows Live mail. Audible sound when a mail comes in is created by the Windows sound set, to view, test, or even change to a different sound, you need to go into the sound events manager. You should have on the bottom task bar a speaker icon which when hovered over with the mouse pointer a dialogue box should say "Realtek HD Audio Manager". (providing your system uses the Realtek system) Right click on the icon and then select "System Sound Events" this should open the sounds manager box. Click on the "sounds" tab at the top, then scroll down the list till you see New Mail Notification, this should have a speaker icon next to it. Click on it and the sound type should show in the box below and the green arrowed test button should become live, click on it and the sound should play. Let us know if any different from that. Nev.

Hi again, thanks for coming back to let us know and that there is still a problem. You may be right and the main HDD is playing up and maybe even sticking. The odd noises suggest a HDD problem. However, this may sound strange, but please bear with me. I found something similar happening a few weeks ago when viewing either video of my own stuff done on the video camera etc, or much worse when trying a Youtube download. The first thing I did was open task manager and have a look at what might be hogging resources and found Firefox was using some incredibly high amount of memory, which as I watched the amount kept climbing. (well over 900,000K) I therefore closed Firefox. Straight away end of problem. Since then Firefox have issued an update which appears to have cured the problem to some extent, though memory usage is still a bit high for my liking but at least the computer is usable while Firefox is open. I mention all of this just to point out that there may be something similar in your case which is hogging a large amount of RAM memory. To get to task manager just type "Task Manager" in the search box after clicking start, then select "View running processes with Task Manager" When the window opens, select the "Processes" tab. Have a look down the list under Memory and look for anything using more than 200,000K Nev.

Hi Jamesand, I wonder have you a desktop icon for Internet Explorer, but instead of the correct "Internet Explorer" written under it, is there in lower case just the wording "iexplorer" ? Nev.

Hum, Looking at the spec, there is at least a Svideo output socket, that could be used to connect and send a video signal out to a TV with the right lead and possibly SCART adapter, doing that would at least prove the video hardware, software and drivers are OK. If they are, then sorry but it points to a faulty monitor screen. Nev.

I reckon that is the problem, I found the spec for the 5770 here= http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-5000/hd-5770/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-5770-overview.aspx#3 It recommends a PSU of minimum 600W. It is a wonder that little 250W one hasn't fried a long time ago. Nev.

What was the reason for replacing the backlight tube, what were you seeing before? Do you have another monitor you can connect to at least check the display software is OK? If it is and gives a decent picture on another monitor there is then some sort of hardware fault and may even need a new screen. Nev.

I have found that the main plastic covers are in two parts. First of all remove the two rear screws for the side panel and slide the side panel out pulling from the rear, then lay the machine down with that side up. As in this first photo you will see arrows pointing to the three plastic clips that hold the front panel on. Gently push them downwards and prise the cover off from what would be the bottom and in this view right hand end of that front panel. http://i28.servimg.com/u/f28/14/68/69/96/sam_0620.jpg Next is to remove the top panel, you have to do it in this order, front panel first, then the top one. Note that there is two sideways clips for this. Push in the two top ones, the left hand one is sideways like the out of view one. Prise off a little then push in the out of view sideways clip, the panel should lift clear then. http://i28.servimg.com/u/f28/14/68/69/96/sam_0621.jpg You will then have access to the front mounted USB sockets on the right, there are two visible screws for these, arrowed in both photo's. Once that assembly is removed, it looks like a clipped together metal box, this should be able to be prised open to get at each USB socket. If any rivets, they will have to be drilled out and replaced with the new socket, small screws and nuts may suffice if no rivet gun available. This is the top view with arrow pointing to the fixing screw of the USB assembly. http://i28.servimg.com/u/f28/14/68/69/96/sam_0622.jpg And this is the view from under the assembly, again arrow pointing to fixing screw. There may be another hidden under the card reader mountings, I am not sure about that as I couldn't see one. http://i28.servimg.com/u/f28/14/68/69/96/sam_0623.jpg Refitting is the exact reverse order, when the front panel is fitted, make sure it is fully pressed in so as to not block the card reader slots. I hope this has been of help, Nev.

Well the processor temperatures are fine, we don't usually worry until they go over 60C. We seem now to have covered most likely problems as there is only perhaps either a hardware fault on the motherboard, or a small chance the power supply is getting hot over a period of time and the voltage dipping, the sound being the first to go when it does. I assume it is the original power supply and you didn't change for a bigger one when you installed the 5770 graphics card. Being a Packard Bell, or more correctly Acer it is nearly impossible to find a picture of that motherboard, so I don't know if there is a likely PCIE, or older PCI slot you might have missed seeing to fit a sound card into. However my thoughts are on a hardware problem which may be the power supply not quite up to the slightly higher spec of the newer graphics card. The only way is to fit a higher powered Power supply to check that, Hopefully you know a friend who has a higher rated one you can borrow. Nev.

Hi, it looks like the available slots are already used then. However the heat problem does seem to be the cause and shutting down the sound system. I need to do some research but could do with knowing what make and model of your computer is, and if possible if there is any name and model number on the motherboard. Also which third party program are you using to check the temperatures? can you post a screen shot of what it shows or at least tell us what the values are at the time when the problem occurs? Nev.

Hi Kennard and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. This looks like the edge connections to the screen itself have been disturbed, all you can do is check the cable connections are in correctly. If those to the very edge of the screen have cracked away it may need a new screen. Nev.

Oh dear, I am a day late, but I do hope you had a great day with lots of good presents. A late happy birthday young man. http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/birthday3.gif http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/birthday.gif http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y282/plasticpig/birthday3.gif

Hi and welcome to Free Pc Help. It looks like you may have some malware on your computer. I have asked the experts to have a look so please be patient till someone sees you. Nev.

The Imedia main cases are all fairly similar in shape and knowing production techniques the plastic surround may well be the same for all. I am not taking mine apart tonight, now, but will look in the morning, and if possible to remove it easily and photograph it I will do so. It does look like it is all one big L shaped plastic cover, though there may be a joint I cannot at the moment see. Nev.

Is this one long and continuous beep or even a squeal sound from inside the box? Does the computer work OK otherwise? The noise actually may be a fan bearing beginning to fail and if so will need a new fan. If the fans are OK and the rest of the computer works OK, providing the sound is definitely coming from the internal speaker it just may be an odd fault from the BIOS. Remove the small battery, and leave it out for at least a minute, then replace it, that will reset the BIOS and hopefully stop the noise. Otherwise disconnecting the speaker will either stop the noise, or definitely prove the sound is from something else. Nev.

Hi, if the heat problem is due to dust, then cleaning it out will cure that or should do providing the fans work correctly. As in most card upgrades a sound card should come with a disk, that should contain the driver software, which put simply, will automatically tell Windows to turn off the internal sound while the card is in. See how it goes after a clean out first though, you may not need to go to the expense of buying a card if the sound quality is OK for you. Nev.

Thanks for the update and will be interested to know what they say. From the specifications, I read it to say that there is a 3.5 inch version or 2.5 version available as two separate things, though you were informed you were buying the 3.5 version, I suspect it is the 2.5 inch you have, though I wouldn't have thought a 3.5 inch drive would physically fit. However I could be wrong. Nev.

Hi, if that drive was in a machine where the motherboard failed, if that failure was due to a power supply failing, then the power surge that killed the motherboard could well have damaged the drive as well. Nev.

Congratulations Starbuck from me, that turned out to be real marathon of a job, so well done. Nev.

Further to Jelly Beans advice, if you look from one side at the screen can you make out a vague outline of what is on screen? If so it is definitely the backlight tube or the converter/inverter pack for it. It can be replaced if very confident in disassembly of the screen, lid, and main body. If not then I would recommend taking it to a laptop technician to repair. Nev.

Hi Mini Li, welcome back, Only a shot in the dark but it may be a firewall setting, have you checked your firewall? Can you tell us which firewall you are using, and also what other protection you have, anti-virus or other. Nev.

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. Most of our rules are common sense sort of thing, please have a look here by clicking on this link= http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/11463-New-to-Free-PC-Help-Forum-Rules And also to help you to get around on the forum itself do have a look here too= http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/11462-New-to-Free-PC-Help-A-helpful-guide I do hope that is of help and that you have many hours here and enjoy our company. Nev.

Hi Jayden lee, this may be what you are looking for but is only free to try on a 30 day trial.= http://www.bwmonitor.com/ For a slightly smaller package that as far as I can see is free try this= http://www.thinkbroadband.com/tbbmeter.html There are plenty more out there as well, have a look at this Google page and list, it's where I found those above. http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&xhr=t&q=Bandwidth+monitor&cp=11&pf=p&sclient=psy&biw=1189&bih=860&source=hp&aq=0&aqi=&aql=&oq=Bandwidth+m&pbx=1&fp=4ffca68393f93048 Nev.